Method and apparatus for channelizing sampled broadband signal

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to reception and processing of broadband signals, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for channelizing a sampled broadband signal that does not require the signal to be down-mixed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to extract a channel of data from a broadband signal, it is necessary to down-mix the received broadband signal, to filter the signal, and to perform other processing to isolate the desired channel. Where the broadband signal is digitally processed, the sampling frequency may be much greater than the desired signal processing frequency, such that decimation of the sampled data is also required. These processes add cost to the signal processing circuitry and increase the power consumption requirements for the signal processing circuitry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention provides an apparatus and method for channelization of a broadband signal that does not require mixing, filtering or decimation of the received signal.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a system for isolating individual channels in a broadband signal is provided. The system includes a plurality of multipliers, each having an input and an output. A summer coupled to the outputs of each of the plurality of multipliers is provided to generate an output. A multiplication factor system provides a multiplication factor to each of the multipliers to select a predetermined frequency channel of the input signal.

Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the advantages and superior features of the invention together with other important aspects thereof on reading the detailed description that follows in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a diagram of a system for channelization of a broadband signal in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a diagram of time domain samples and associated frequency domain spectrums in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a diagram of method for channelization of a broadband signal in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures might not be to scale, and certain components can be shown in generalized or schematic form and identified by commercial designations in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a diagram of a system <b>100</b> for channelization of a broadband signal in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. System <b>100</b> can be implemented in hardware, software or a suitable combination of hardware and software, and can be one or more discrete hardware systems. As used herein, “hardware” can include a combination of discrete components, an integrated circuit, an application-specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, a digital signal processor, or other suitable hardware. As used herein, “software” can include one or more objects, agents, threads, lines of code, subroutines, separate software applications, two or more lines of code or other suitable software structures operating in two or more software applications or on two or more processors, or other suitable software structures. In one exemplary embodiment, software can include one or more lines of code or other suitable software structures operating in a general purpose software application, such as an operating system, and one or more lines of code or other suitable software structures operating in a specific purpose software application.

System <b>100</b> includes receiver <b>102</b>, which receives a broadband signal and performs suitable processing on the broadband signal. In one exemplary embodiment, receiver <b>102</b> can amplify the broadband signal, can sample the broadband signal at a suitable sampling frequency, and can perform other suitable processing.

Receiver <b>102</b> is coupled to switch <b>104</b>. As used herein, the term “coupled” and its cognate terms such as “couples” or “couple,” can include a physical connection (such as a wire, optical fiber, or a telecommunications medium), a virtual connection (such as through randomly assigned memory locations of a data memory device or a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) link), a logical connection (such as through one or more semiconductor devices in an integrated circuit), other suitable connections, or a suitable combination of connections. In one exemplary embodiment, switch <b>104</b> receives a series of digital samples from receiver <b>102</b>, and provides the samples in a predetermined order to multipliers <b>106</b>A through <b>106</b>N. Other suitable processes can also or alternatively be used, such as where switch <b>104</b> receives an analog signal and multipliers <b>106</b>A to <b>106</b>N perform analog to digital processing of the signal.

Multipliers <b>106</b>A through <b>106</b>N apply a predetermined multiplication factor to the signal provided by switch <b>104</b>. In one exemplary embodiment, multiplication factor system <b>108</b> can provide multiplication factors to multipliers <b>106</b>A through <b>106</b>N based on a channel selection received from channel selection system <b>110</b> or other suitable systems. Likewise, multipliers <b>106</b>A through <b>106</b>N can have a predetermined multiplication factor, such as where system <b>100</b> is used for extracting a single predetermined channel from a broadband signal, or other suitable processes can also or alternatively be used.

Channel selection system <b>110</b> allows a channel of a broadband signal to be selected, such as based on a predetermined frequency band of interest. In one exemplary embodiment, channel selection system <b>110</b> can present user-selectable channel data, can receive control data that identifies or is correlated to a channel of data in a broadband data signal, or other suitable processes can also or alternatively be used.

Multiplication factor system <b>108</b> receives channel data from channel selection system <b>110</b> or other suitable systems and generates multiplication factor data for multipliers <b>106</b>A through <b>106</b>N. In one exemplary embodiment, multiplication factor system <b>108</b> can store a look-up table of multiplication factors associated with predetermined channels, can generate multiplication factors based on channel data, such as bandwidth data and center band data, or can perform other suitable processes. In another exemplary embodiment, multiplication factor system <b>108</b> can receive decimation data that identifies a down-sampling ratio, such as where the number of multipliers can be varied, the sampling rate of receiver <b>102</b> can be varied, or in other suitable manners. In this exemplary embodiment, the multiplication factors generated by multiplication factor system <b>108</b> can be coordinated with the sampling frequency and the decimation data so as to generate an output signal at a predetermined sample rate.

Summer <b>112</b> receives the multiplied outputs from multipliers <b>106</b>A through <b>106</b>N and sums the outputs to generate a channelized output signal at a lower sampling rate than the sampling rate of the received broadband signal. As discussed below, by selecting suitable multiplication factors for the time domain samples and adding the adjusted samples to form a single sample, the effect in the frequency domain is the same as sampling at a higher frequency, and can be used to select frequency bands of interest or channels without the need to down-mix, filter or decimate the sampled data.

In operation, system <b>100</b> channelizes a broadband signal without the need for mixers, filters, decimators or other common signal processing components. System <b>100</b> can be used in a suitable broadband receiver, such as a cable or satellite receiver, a wireless card for a notebook personal computer, a cellular telephone, a hand-held computing device, navigational devices, telecommunication devices, televisions, radios, or other suitable devices utilizing receivers. In addition, system <b>100</b> can be used to detect and compensate for timing jitter.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a diagram <b>200</b> of time domain samples and associated frequency domain spectrums in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Time domain samples <b>202</b> at a sampling time period of T<b>1</b> can be transformed in the frequency domain to frequency bands A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b> and A<b>3</b> of frequency spectrum <b>204</b>, having a separation frequency F<b>1</b>, which equals 1/T<b>1</b>. If the time domain samples are separated into odd time domain samples <b>206</b> and even time domain samples <b>210</b>, the associated frequency spectrums <b>208</b> and <b>212</b> will include frequency bands A<b>1</b>, A<b>2</b> and A<b>3</b>, as well as frequency bands D<b>1</b> and D<b>2</b>, each having a separation frequency of F<b>2</b>, which equals 1/T<b>2</b>. Because time domain samples <b>202</b> are the sum of time domain samples <b>206</b> and <b>210</b>, frequency spectrum <b>204</b> can be generated by subtracting frequency bands D<b>1</b> and D<b>2</b> from frequency spectrums <b>208</b> and <b>212</b>. By applying suitable multiplication factors to time domain samples <b>206</b> and <b>210</b>, channelization of the associated frequency domain spectrum can be accomplished.

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a diagram of method <b>300</b> for channelization of a broadband signal in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Method <b>300</b> begins at <b>302</b>, where a channel selection is received. In one exemplary embodiment, the channel selection can be a predetermined frequency channel, can be a frequency band, or other suitable selections can be used. The method then proceeds to <b>304</b>.

At <b>304</b>, multiplication coefficients for the selected channel are set. In one exemplary embodiment, the multiplication coefficients can be obtained from a look-up table, can be calculated based on the sample rate and frequency channel data, or other suitable processes can be used. The method then proceeds to <b>306</b>.

At <b>306</b>, a broadband signal is sampled in the time domain. In one exemplary embodiment, a received and amplified signal can be sampled at a predetermined sampling frequency, the sampling frequency can be set based on the selected channel, or other suitable processes can also or alternatively be used. The method then proceeds to <b>308</b>.

At <b>308</b>, the samples are provided to multipliers that utilize the multiplication coefficients. In one exemplary embodiment, the samples can be provided in a predetermined order, and the multiplied sample values can be stored. The method then proceeds to <b>310</b>.

At <b>310</b>, the multiplier outputs are summed, such as by adding the multiplied sample values from each multiplier, by storing the multiplied sample values until a complete set of samples is obtained, or in other suitable manners. The sum is then output at a sample rate that is lower than the input sample rate by a factor related to the number of multipliers. The method then proceeds to <b>312</b>.

At <b>312</b>, it is determined whether a change in channel is required. In one exemplary embodiment, the change in channel can be received as a control, can be performed based upon predetermined channel selection data, or can be performed in other suitable manners. If it is determined that a change in channel is required, the method returns to <b>302</b>, otherwise the method proceeds to <b>314</b>.

At <b>314</b>, it is determined whether a change in the output sample rate is required. In one exemplary embodiment, sample rate control data can be received to change the sample rate of the output signal, predetermined sample rate selection data can be used, or other suitable processes can also or alternatively be used. If it is determined that a change in the sample rate is required, the method proceeds to <b>316</b>, where the number of multipliers, the sample rate of the input samples, the multiplication coefficients, or other suitable variables are adjusted to generate data for the selected frequency channel at the selected sample rate. The method then returns to <b>302</b>. Otherwise, the method returns to <b>306</b>.

In operation, method <b>300</b> allows a broadband signal to be sampled and processed to select a channel of data without the need for down-mixing, filtering and decimation. Method <b>300</b> can be used to selected predetermined or adjustable frequency channels in a broadband signal without the need to change oscillator frequencies, decimators, or other parameters.

Although exemplary embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will also recognize that various substitutions and modifications can be made to the apparatus without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.